Dr. Javier Clavere serves as dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. He is an award-winning polymath, scholar and performer. His research interests for the past three decades include systems theory, entrepreneurship, Stoicism, Pragmatism, Christianity, sacred music, popular music, Foucauldian studies, semiotics, semioethics, semiotics and globalization, multi-modality and the semiotics of educational processes. His research in educational leadership includes peace and conflict resolution-transformation through the arts, as well as leadership in systemic change, transformational leadership, diversity and inclusion, higher education administration, assessment in higher education and strategic program design. His formal training, expertise, and experience in servant leadership has facilitated training for leadership, transformational leadership design thinking, executive coaching, team development and team environment design, leadership and innovation, humanistic management, conflict-resolution and de-escalation, culture change and work climate calibration. He is a licensed TEDx organizer, with his latest presentation on Humanistic Entrepreneurship, where he is unfolding a new model of leadership and entrepreneurship based on humanistic principles titled “Humanistic Entrepreneurship.”
Dr. Clavere was invited as a keynote speaker at International Conferences in Semiotics, Pragmatism and Music. In 2019 he was invited to deliver a keynote address at the “XIX International Meeting on Pragmatism,” organized by the Philosophy Department at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, Brazil. That same year, the city of Rosario, in conjunction with the National University of Rosario Argentina, granted Dr. Clavere by Decree No. 56.784 the lifetime achievement award and title of “Distinguished Musician.”
Dr. Clavere is the executive director of the philosophical society — The Semiotic Society of America—where he is the legal representative overseeing the financial and operational responsibilities of the Society, leading the scholarly and research documentation of the Society, including the production and distribution of the peer-reviewed journal, and supervising the editorial boards of The American Journal of Semiotics (ISSN 0277 - 7126) and the Yearbook of the Semiotic Society of America.
Dr. Clavere has almost two decades of ministerial experience as Director of Worship and Liturgy in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah, the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio.
As a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging practitioner, Dr. Clavere is a member of the Diversity Scholars Network (DSN), of the National Center for Institutional Diversity (NCID) at the University of Michigan; a fellow of the New Leadership Academy, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, University of Michigan; a Fellow, Salzburg Global Seminar, “Conflict Transformation Through Culture: Peace-building and the Arts,” in Salzburg, Austria. In his work with diversity with Dr. Valeria Watkins, he was registered as a minority business consultant providing solutions in the state of Kentucky providing training and strategic planning in multicultural competence, team development, organizational advancement, safety and human interaction, safety, trauma and adverse childhood experience, institutional assessment, bias and incident response, internet safety, cyber-bullying, and social media safety, protocol design for safety response and crisis intervention and financial literacy, while providing tools for access and equity. His company, Leadership Diversity Solutions, won the second prize at the Gatton College of Business and Economics, Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship Bootcamp 2021 Competition at the University of Kentucky with the project “Financial Literacy for Equity and Access.” Dr. Clavere's research includes business models, entrepreneurship for the arts, and arts for social change.
As an artist, Javier has performed in many prestigious concert series across the United States, South America and Europe performing with orchestras, in solo recitals and chamber music. In 1994 he was privileged to perform on Vladimir Horowitz’s piano featuring the famed pianist’s instrument, organized by Steinway and Sons. He was an artist in residence of the Utah Arts Council Performing Arts Tour. In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, he was the soloist for the Opening Gala of the Symphony of the Americas in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He also appeared as a soloist with the Fairfield Symphony Orchestra, James Madison University Symphony Orchestra, Rosario State Philharmonic, and Rosario Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared in solo recitals in prestigious series such as: Palm Beach Invitational International Piano Competition, Broward Performing Arts Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Rutgers University Nicholas Music Center, DiCapo Opera Theater (NYC), Temple Square Concert Series in Salt Lake City and the Xavier University Piano Series in Cincinnati. A consistent prizewinner, he has both participated and won prizes in the Los Angeles Franz Liszt International Piano Competition, International Utah Mozart Festival and the Palm Beach Invitational International Piano Competition.
Dr. Clavere was born in Rosario, Argentina, and was invited to the United States on a full scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. His graduate studies followed at the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati. He studied piano with Roberto Caamano, Dr. Paul Pollei, Dr. Seymour Bernstein, Prof. Eugene and Elisabeth Pridonoff, and Mr. James Tocco with studies on the organ with Parley Belnap at Brigham Young University. He has performed as a piano duo with his wife Lindsay since 1996. In honor of their wedding, composer Seymour Bernstein wrote “Rhapsody on Two Names – Javier and Lindsay,” which premiered at their piano duo debut in the Assembly Hall Concert Series in Salt Lake City in 1997. They have performed extensively as a duo across North and South America. He held the McGaw Endowed Chair at Berea College where he also performed the carillon regularly on their beloved “John Courter” Carillon.
Doctor in Musical Arts – Piano Performance – Cognate: Chamber Music, College-Conservatory of Music – University of Cincinnati, Ohio
Master of Music – Music Theory – Thesis: “Semiotic Analysis of Osvaldo Golijov’s Musical Setting of the Passion Narrative in La Pasión según San Marcos.” College-Conservatory of Music – University of Cincinnati, Ohio
Bachelor of Arts – Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy – Brigham Young University – Provo, Utah
Diploma in Web Development and E-Business – Anthem Institute of Technology (Anthem Education Group) – North Brunswick, New Jersey
Berea College 2010 - 2022 (Mary McGaw Endowed Chair)
St Margaret of York 2003 - 2011 (Director of Worship and Liturgy)
Corpus Christi Church 1997 - 2002 (Director of Worship)
St Francis of Assisi 1994 - 1997 (Director of Music, bilingual director Diocese of Salt Lake City Bilingual Choir)
Clavere E-Business Solutions, Consultant–Project Manager (1998 - 2008)
Leadership, Diversity, Solutions Enterprises, LLC. Berea, KY – Diversity Strategist-Executive Coach (2010–2022)
Keynote Speaker, "XXII International Meeting on Pragmatism," Philosophy Department, Center of Pragmatist Studies, Pontificia Universidade Catolica de São Paulo, Brazil, Nov. 6-9, 2023. “Abduction and Artificial Intelligence: The Hope for Our Human Future.”
The American Journal of Semiotics 36.1–2 Special Issue: Musings and Semiotics. Javier Clavere and Robert Hatten, Editors. ISSN 0277-7126 (Forthcoming 2022)
"The Multimodality of Semiosis: Beyond Multimodality." Cognition: Journal of Philosophy v.21 n.1 (2020). Center for Pragmatism Studies, Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, Brazil: 34–44.
"Shrine or Enshrined: The Representation of the Passion Narrative." Edwin Broadhead and Javier Clavere (Under Revision–2023).
Javier Clavere, Lindsay Clavere, & Matthew Talbert. Christmas in Berea. Berea, KY: Berea College, © 2014.
Review of Face to Face with Orchestra and Chorus: A Handbook for Choral Conductors, 2nd ed., edited by Don V. Moses, et al.” Music Research Forum, Vol. 20, 2005.
Presentation and Keynote Presentation
Invited Speaker: “Toward a Common Language for Curricular Transformation.” Butler School of Music, The University of Texas at Austin, 2021.
Plenary Address, “Semioethics, Moral Competence, and the Creation of Meaning in Multiculturalism.” 45th Annual Conference of the Semiotic Society of America, Virtual, 2021.
Keynote Speaker, "XIX International Meeting on Pragmatism," Philosophy Department, Pontificia Universidade Catolica de São Paulo, Brazil, Sept. 4-7, 2019.
Plenary address: "The Multidimensionality of Semiosis: Beyond Multimodality"
"Fairness and Assessment: Performance and Academic Success for LatinX Students." Annual Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2018.
"Using Peer Review to Help Establish and Grow Your Assessment Culture." Annual Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2018.
"Assessment Toolbox: Designing Reliable Assessment to Improve Performance and Academic Success for LatinX Students." American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education National Conference, Irvine, CA, 2018.
"Workforce Development for Whom: Is There a Need for a New LatinX Leadership Model?" (Michelle Rosemond, Wanda Brown, Javier Clavere, Nicholas Natividad, Mariam Lam). American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education National Conference, Irvine, CA, 2018.
“From Gethsemane to the Grave: A Multimodal Analysis of the Passion Narrative, Topics, Characters, and Spaces.” 42nd Annual Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America, Puebla, Mexico, 2017.
“Enhancing Multicultural Competence in Higher Education.” University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 2016.
“Multiculturalism and Semiotics: Identity and the Creation of Meaning.” Humanist and International Professors and Scientists Conference, Keynote Speaker. Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, Mexico, 2016.
“Diversity, Multiculturalism, and Inclusion: Toward a Modeling System Theory and the Creation of Meaning.” 41st Annual National Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America, Delray Beach, Florida, 2016.
Keynote Speaker, “Journey: Del Signo a la Interacción Cultural.” School of Design Annual Conference, Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, México, Sept. 9 - 13, 2015.
Plenary address: “The Grand Syntagmaqique and Syntagmatic Types: A Multimodal Narrativity in Film.” Presentation: “The Design Process of Audio Signification.”
“Technology and Pedagogy: Improving Learning Processes through Technology.” Kentucky Music Teachers Association Annual Conference, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, 2015.
“The Semiotics of Tango: Typology of Meaning through Body Movement.” 40th Annual National Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2015.
“Semiotics, Meaning, and Persuasion: A Model for Engaged Learning.” XVII Appalachian College Association Summit – “To Connect, To Collaborate, To Learn,” Knoxville, Tennessee, 2014.
“Interpretation and Performative Agency in Mozart Keyboard Sonatas.” 38th Annual National Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America, Seattle, Washington, 2014.
“Semiosis and the Transcendent in Music.” 37th Annual National Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America, Dayton, Ohio, 2013.
“The Tango Affair: Hollywood’s Infatuation.” 36th Annual National Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2011.
"'Mais Que Nada,' Jorge Ben, Sergio Mendes, Brasil ’66, and the Black Eyed Peas: Cultural Fusion, Sign Evolution, and Popular Music.” 34th Annual Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2009.
“The Semiosis of Jazz Piano Transcriptions.” 33rd Annual Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America, Houston, Texas, 2008.
“Parody and Ironic Ethos in La Pasión según San Marcos by Osvaldo Golijov.” Annual Meeting of Music Theory South East Regional Conference, University of Greensboro, North Carolina, 2008.
“Existential Irony in La Pasión según San Marcos by Osvaldo Golijov.” Annual Meeting of Music Theory Midwest, University of Bowling Green, Ohio, 2008.
“The Paradigm Shift Theory, Sacred Signs and Worship Systems.” 32nd Annual Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2007. Kevelson Young Scholar Award.
- National Association of Diversity Officer in Higher Education
- Association of American Colleges and Universities
- American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education
- Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education
- Diversity Scholars Network (DSN), National Center for Institutional Diversity (NCID), University of Michigan
- Semiotic Society of America
- L’ Association Internationale de Sémiotique
Excellence in Music Teaching, “Top Music Teacher Award” Steinway and Sons, New York City, NY, 2019.
Distinguished Musician (Lifetime achievement award), Decree No. 56.784 City Government of the City of Rosario – Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina, 2019.
Member, Diversity Scholars Network (DSN), National Center for Institutional Diversity (NCID),University of Michigan, 2018 – Present.
Fellow, New Leadership Academy, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education,
University of Michigan, 2017 – 2018. Training in higher administration, leadership, partnership anddiversity leadership, legislative and governance, management and budget, innovation and transformational change, mediating faculty, staff and administrative relationships.
Campus Project: Creating a culture of trust and accountability (2018).
Excellence in Music Teaching, “Top Music Teacher Award” Steinway and Sons, New York City, NY, 2017.
Fellow, Academic Leadership Academy, Bluegrass Higher Education Consortium, Kentucky, 2015.
Training in higher education administration, leadership, strategic thinking, team building and communication, budget and fiscal management, conflict resolution, accreditation, compliance, assessment. Campus Project: Innovation and Entrepreneurial Thinking for Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education (2016).
Professional Development Grant, Research at the Manuscript and Rare Collection Room at the Vatican Library, Rome, Italy, 2015. Research completion for manuscript and primary source consultation.
Fellow, Salzburg Global Seminar, “Conflict Transformation Through Culture: Peace-building and the Arts.” Salzburg, Austria, 2014.
Research Grant Recipient, The Edward T. Cone Foundation, 2014.
Research Grant, Berea College, Research at the Musicological Institute of Argentina, Buenos Aires,
2012.
Distinguished Masters Thesis Research Award, Graduate School, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, 2009.
Second Prize, and Top Prize for Duo, Ellis Piano Competition, Spartanburg, South Carolina, 2007.
First Place, Palm Beach Invitational International Piano Competition, Palm Beach, Florida, 1997.
Loaz Johnson Scholar Award, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 1994 – 1997.
Artist in Residence, Utah Arts Council Performing Arts Tour, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1995 – 1996.
Second Place, Chamber Music Award, IX International Mozart Festival, Park City, Utah, 1994.
Second Prize, Los Angeles Franz Liszt International Piano Competition, Los Angeles, California, 1994.
I pledge in all activities of service to inspire, empower, and support others in their pursuit of happiness, goodness, and truth. The words of Toni Morrison provide a context for my conception of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging "When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else."
Throughout my life, I have strived to empower students and fellow colleagues so that they may create avenues of achievement and self-fulfillment. It is my belief that the greatest gift we can give someone is to facilitate their awareness of possibilities, so that they may unfold and develop their wisdom while gaining the skills that will assist in creating a better future. This process of empowerment is done through the lens of inclusive excellence with a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and equal access.
As a professional in higher education, I provide the foundational support for the cultivation of a zeal and love for learning, stimulate the motivation to embark on a quest for knowledge, and provide a learning environment where students, faculty, and staff can discover, scrutinize critically, and transmit knowledge with compassion, empathy, and care for the good of humankind.
I promote a culture of learning, discovery, and engagement with equal access and equity, promoting a love for diversity and inclusion where safety and well-being are at the center of our objectives. I am committed to helping others to reach their goals and fulfill their vision through service, personal accountability, teamwork, creativity, innovation, and hard work while fostering a safe and nurturing environment where student-centered learning thrives.
Dr. Javier Clavere
Dean, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences